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You wanted to survive, stand, survive
by Richard PaezI don't see you everywhere I look
– if I did, maybe I could acclimate
to the sight of you in corners, passing cars,
wearing sunglasses in shadows –
and I'm still breathing to the rhythm
of your barely quivering lips:
succulent and cold,
kiss-less and silent
(you thought them all wrong
and I – all that was worth living for.)
You wanted to see yourself through my eyes.
It's a damn good thing you couldn't.
Could you survive, hanging from eyelashes
that only bat in shame?
Could you stand reaching out to touch
a face that only ever turned away? Staring
into eyes that only gazed elsewhere?
Could you survive loving yourself
(the way I loved you?)
and baby,
I wish you all the luck in the world.
01/24/2010 Posted on 01/24/2010
Copyright © 2024 Richard Paez
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Therese Elaine on 01/24/10 at 07:39 PM This is amazingly -I love the bold versus the fine print...reminds me of so many things, especially musically but the one that stands out the most is that line from Tom Waits "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." Really a fantastic piece, about hope, futility and holding the good thought amongst all the hurt and bitter ones. Well done! |
| Posted by Rachel Bennett on 01/25/10 at 04:01 AM This seems very syncopated, and I enjoyed reading it aloud. Thanks for the great write! |
| Posted by Nanette Bellman on 01/25/10 at 04:48 AM I love the format in this and I love the slight sense of bitterness I get from this. It has a lot of power behind it all. |
| Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 01/25/10 at 12:56 PM One hell of a strong format. The words to back it up are just as strong. |
| Posted by Melissa Arel on 01/26/10 at 05:40 AM Its bold & bitter & beautiful all in one. Awesome. |
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